Keyring construction

ABSTRACT

A keyring construction including a discontinuous annular ring defining an interstice for the selective engagement of keys, a casing element having a pair of openings therein through which said ring passes, and resilient locking means disposed within said casing element projectable into said interstice, to prevent movement of said ring relative to said casing element, whereby removal of keys is prevented, said resilient means being disengaged by translational movement of said ring relative to said casing element, followed by rotational movement thereof.

tes Patent [54] KEYRDIG CONSTRUCTION [72] Inventor: Emll S. Polk, 6 North Street, Mount Vernon, NY. 10550 [22] Filed: May 27, 1970 [21] Appl. No.: 40,764

[51] Int. Cl. ..A44b 15/00 [58] Field of Search ..70/459, 456 R, 456 B, 457, 70/458; 24/3 K, 238

[56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,626,987 5/1927 Venegas ..70/459 2,224,073 12/1940 Augenstein .1. ...70/459 2,855,775 10/1958 Marien ...70/459 3,362,201 l/1968 Lachin ...70/459 3,478,550 11/1969 Salvensen .70/459 FOREIGN PATENTS OR APPLICATIONS 854,204 1/1940 France ..70/459 1,224,203 2/1960 France ..70/459 Primary ExaminerRobert L. Wolfe Attomey-Charles E. Temko [5 7] ABSTRACT 3 Claims, 4 Drawing Figures KEYRING CONSTRUCTION This invention relates generally to the field of key-retaining devices, and more particularly to an improved keyring construction in which a plurality of keys may be supported on a single ring, for selective engagement and removal.

Prior art constructions have been usually of one of two types. In a first type, the ring is formed to include a plurality of superimposed convolutions which are resiliently urged toward each other, whereby keys may be individually engaged by starting at one end of the convolution and forcing the key along the continuous arcuate interstice between the convolutions until the other end of the ring has been reached. While this construction is relatively cheap to manufacture, and keys are not readily disengaged accidentally therefrom, when the removal or insertion of a key is desired, considerably force is necessary to separate the convolutions for initial engagement or disengagement, which force must .usually be applied through the fingernails of the user. This operation is time consuming, and often requires several attempts for each engagement or disengagement of a key.

The second type of keyring employs a split ring intercom nected at one point by a transverse pin and provided with a resilient latch at an oppositely disposed end. This type of ring, while more convenient from the standpoint of engagement and disengagement of keys, is prone to spring open with use, with a subsequent loss of keys.

More expensive constructions have included resiliently urged locking means in the form of a sleeve which overlies the interstice formed in a split ring. These rings, while superior to those described hereinabove, suffer from a disadvantage in that the resilient means must be maintained under tension while keys are being engaged or disengaged, thereby rendering such devices difficult to manipulate.

It is, therefore, among the principal objects of the present invention, to provide an improved keyring construction in which the above mentioned disadvantages have been substantially eliminated.

Another object of the invention lies in the provision of an improved keyring construction in which the resilient locking means may be disengaged manually, and subsequently maintained in disengaged condition without further effort on the part of the user while keys are being engaged or disengaged.

Another object of the invention lies in the provision of an improved keyring construction in which the locking means is disposed within a casing so as not to be accidentally disturbed during the use of a key.

A further object of the invention lies in the provision of an improved key ring construction in which the casing element in which the locking means'is mounted includes a transparent component, whereby the condition of the locking means may be visibly observed.

Still another object of the invention lies in the provision of an improved key ring construction in which the cost of fabrication may be of a reasonably low order, thereby permitting consequent wide sale, distribution, and use.

A feature of the disclosed embodiment lies in the unusually attractive appearance of the same. 1

FIG. 1 is a side elevational view of an embodiment of the invention.

FIG. 2 is an end elevational view thereof.

FIG. 3 is a side elevational view thereof, showing the side opposite that seen in FIG. 1.

FIG. 4 is a side elevational view corresponding to that seen in FIG. 3, but showing certain of the component parts in altered relative position.

In accordance with the invention, the device, generally indicated by reference 10, comprises broadly: a casing element 111, a ring member 12, and ring member locking means 13.

The casing element 11 is preferably formed as a metallic stamping, although it may also be fonned from synthetic resinous materials. It includes a body member 15 having a planar wall 16, and a cylindrical wall 17 defining first and second openings 18 and 19, respectively, the body member 15 defining a chamber 20 containing the locking means 13. Opposite the planar wall 16 is a transparent cover member 21.

g The ring member 13 is preferably of rectangular cross section, and is bounded by side surfaces 23 and 24, an outer peripheral surface 25 an inner peripheral surface 26, and end surfaces 27 and 28 defining an interstice 29 therebetween.

The locking means 13 is disposed entirely within the chamber 20, and includes a ring-locking member 31, a resilient follower member 32 and a follower guard 33.

The locking member 31 is a planar configuration, and is bounded by a pair of side surfaces, one of which is indicated by reference 35, as well as an outer peripheral surface 36 corresponding in curvature to the inner surface 33 of the cylindrical wall 17. An inner curved surface 38 corresponds in curvature to that of the outer peripheral surface 25 of the ring member 13, and is provided with a generally rectangularly shaped projection 39 bounded by side surfaces 40 and a curved end surface 41.

The follower member 32 includes a head portion 43, and a stern portion 44 engaging a follower spring 45. The head portion is bounded by a curved surface 47 corresponding to the inner peripheral surface 26 of the ring number 13, and planar surface 48. The stem portion 44 is bounded by side surfaces 49, and end surfaces 50 which communicate with a slotted recess 51 in which the spring 45 is disposed.

The follower guide 33, like the locking member 31 is fixed within the chamber 20, and is bounded by a curved outer peripheral surface 53, and substantially rectilinear surfaces 54. A slot 55 is bounded by side surfaces 56 and end surface 57 which configure the slot to form a guide for the stem portion 44 of the follower member 32. The outer end 58 of the spring 45 normally contacts said end surface 57.

Operation of the device will be readily understood from a comparison of FIG. 3. and FIG. 4 of the drawing. To open the keyring for the engagement of keys, the ring member 12 is grasped with the fingers of one hand, and the casing element by the fingers of the other. Pulling the same away from each other, results in rectilinear movement of the ring member with respect to the casing element, whereby the follower member 32 is displaced against the action of the spring 45, the ring moving within the openings 18 and 19 to a point where the projection 39 is moved outwardly of the interstice. Next, while maintaining this rectilinear displacement, the ring member 12 is rotated to a position where the interstice is disposed outwardly of the casing element, and as many keys as desired may be engaged or removed. During this operation, the ring member is frictionally maintained in the position shown in FIG. 3 by contact of he same on the outer peripheral surface thereof with the projection 39, and on the inner peripheral surface thereof with the surface of the head portion 43. To lock the ring member, it is necessary only to rotate the same back to the position shown in FIG. 4, wherein as soon as the interstice 29 overrides the projection 39, the follower member 32 will resiliently urge the ring trarrslationally downward whereby the locking action is resumed. Since the locking means 13 is disposed entirely within the casing element 11, the above described manipulation is preferably performed while facing the casing element such that the user may visually observe the operation through the transparent cover member 21.

I wish it to be understood that I do not consider the invention limited to the precise details of structure shown and set forth in this specification, for obvious modifications will occur to those skilled in the art to which the invention pertains.

I claim:

I. Keyring construction comprising: a casing element having at least one opening therein, a discontinuous ring member forming an interstice movable within said opening between a first position in which said interstice is disposed within said casing element, and a second position in which said interstice is disposed outwardly of said casing element, and resilient means selectively engaging said ring member in said interstice to maintain said ring member in said first position; said resilient means being disengaged by translational movement of said ring member relative to said casing element, followed by rotation of said ring member to said second 'position.

2. Structure in accordance with claim 1, said resilient means including a ring-locking member having a projection thereon fixed with respect to said casing element, and a resilient follower member engaging a surface of said ring member to urge the same against said projection. 5

3. Structure in accordance with claim 2, said casing element including a transparent wall, whereby the operation of said resilient means may be visually observed. 

1. Keyring construction comprising: a casing element having at least one opening therein, a discontinuous ring member forming an interstice movable within said opening between a first position in which said interstice is disposed within said casing element, and a second position in which said interstice is disposed outwardly of said casing element, and resilient means selectively engaging said ring member in said interstice to maintain said ring member in said first position; said resilient means being disengaged by translational movement of said ring member relative to said casing element, followed by rotation of said ring member to said second position.
 2. Structure in accordance with claim 1, said resilient means including a ring-locking member having a projection thereon fixed with respect to said casing element, and a resilient follower member engaging a surface of said ring member to urge the same against said projection.
 3. Structure in accordance with claim 2, said casing element including a transparent wall, whereby the operation of said resilient means may be visually observed. 